Now, take a look at this following map, which shows which states have the highest rates of smoking:

And one for highest rates of child obesity:

Here's one for teen birth rates:

A map of U.S. gun deaths:

And a map of non-payers by state:

Here is a map of educational segregation in the U.S. prior to "Brown v. Board of Education:

How about which states are the most religious?

Estimated percent of population in poverty:

What about levels of high school graduation?

And finally, here is one for incarceration rates:

What gives?

What do you think the reasons are for the South leading America in as many negative categories as it does?

To the South's credit, that region is lower than most other areas of the nation in alcohol consumption and drug use. Not all the militia groups are in the South; it does have quite a few, but there are many in the Northeast and in the American West. There also is not really a concentration of Southern states taking federal money, nor is there a concentration of people accessing public assistance. "Tea Party" adherents are spread around the United States too, not all necessarily in the South.

But it seems the South leads in more negative areas than positive.

Is it time for them to secede, or for the rest of the country to cut them loose? :-)

About Me

I am a native eastern Oregonian, and have lived here 47 of my 59 years. I left at 20, but was back by age 32 to be near my parents to help them in times of need. I don't fit in politically here because I view things from a decidedly left wing perspective... but that's o.k. because I love the people, I love the area and for the most part I like living here. I enjoy family time, listening to music, reading books, traveling, bird watching, hiking, backpacking, watching movies, keeping up on politics, watching sports, sitting at the computer so much I get sores on my ass, and playing music... if you need a band for your party or celebration, let me know; I play keyboards and sing for a rock and roll band, and we do mostly "classic rock". (I also like to play guitar and bass and other instruments, but those are for my private enjoyment only!) I am mainly an agnostic/skeptic, but would consider myself spiritual. I work in schools and in clinical settings as a speech/language therapist. It is enjoyable work and it pays some of the bills. I have a rather unpredictable sense of humor, which can get me in trouble at times, but hey, is life worth living without laughter? I think not!